Hollow-block construction.



No. 721,534; PATENTBDTBB.1245-1903. B.L.BLAIR.- J HOLLOW BLOCKCONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

I IN VENTOI ATTORNEY.

is made of wire.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

- HOLLOW-BLOCKCONSTRUCTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. ,534, dated February24, 1903. Application filed May 5, 1902. Serial No. 106,011- (Remodel?)To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BE AMIN L. BLAIR, of Indianapolis, county of Marion,and State of Indiana, have invented acortain new and useful Hollow-BlockConstruction; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts.

This invention relates to means for uniting hollow blocks at their ends.

The object isto make readily and cheaply the joints between hollowblocks made of clay and the like by means of cement held in place whileplastic by "a fabric.

The nature of this invention will be understood fromthe accompanyingdrawings and the following description and claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a central vertical section of a wall formedof hollow blocks joined together by means of and in accordance with myinvention. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of aLsingle hollow blockprovided at each end with wire fabric for holding the cement whileplastic. Fig. 3 is the same with the cement in place in the ends of theblock. Fig. 4 is a perspective of a block with the wire fabric in place.Fig. 5 is a perspective of the sameafter the cement has been applied.

The hollow block herein shown to illustrate my invention is formed ofthe sides land two partitions 2 within said block, crossing each otherat a right angle, whereby the block has four longitudinal openings fromend to end. It may have a greater or less number of such openingswithout modifying my invention. I place a fabric 3, made of wire or anyother suitable material, over the ends of the hollow block andpress itinto the openings fora shortdistance, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Thefabric, therefore, has depressions that fit into the openings in theblock and hold it in place without difficulty, especially when thefabric A fine-wire fabric is preferable.

The hollow block with Wire fabric across its ends, depressed therein,may be handled withoutlosing the fabric, and preliminary to placing thehollow block in the Wall or other structure the fabric-covered ends arefilled or covered with cement 4 or the like, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5,and while the cement is plastic the block is pressed in the wall andpressed a ainst the end of the adjacent block, as shown in Fig. 4. Thefabric holds the plastic cementin place while it is being handled andthe cement is drying, thus securing a solid mortar joint.

What is claimed to be theinvention, and to be secured by Letters Patent,is

1. A hollow block, andmeans in the hollow of the block near theendsthereof for holding cement or the like while plastic.

2. A hollow block,and a fabric placed across its ends and pressed intothe hollow of the block.

3. A construction formed of hollow blocks, means in the openings of theblocks near each end for holding cement or the like while plastic, andcement or the like filled in the ends of the blocks at their joints.

4.. In a construction formed of hollow blocks, a separate piece offabric across the end of each block, and cement or the like filled insaid fabric to make a solid joint between the blocks.

5. In a construction, a hollow block, afabric across the ends ofthe-block pressed into the openings thereof, and cement or the likefilled into the depressions of the fabric for joining blocks together.

I In witness whereof I have hereuntoaffixed my signature in the presenceof the witnesses herein named.

BENJAMIN L. BLAIR.

Witnesses:

V. H. LOOKWOOD, N LLIE ALLEMONG.

